Report: Iraq War costs almost as much as Vietnam

U.S. military spending on the war in Iraq has nearly matched the cost
of the war in Vietnam, according to a new Congressional Research
Service analysis of the financial costs of wars throughout U.S.
history. And total post-9/11 U.S. military spending has exceeded the
cost of Vietnam by a considerable margin.

The ongoing war in Iraq has incurred an estimated $648 billion to date,
and total post-9/11 military spending including the Iraq War,
Afghanistan and other terrorism-related military expenditures has
reached $859 billion, the CRS reported.

The Vietnam War (1965-1975) cost an estimated $686 billion in 2008
dollars, the CRS said.

The total cost of the American Revolution (1775-1783) was $101 million,
or about $1.8 billion in 2008 dollars.
The cost of World War II (1941-1945) was about $4.1 trillion in 2008
dollars, and consumed a massive 35.8% of gross domestic product. The
Iraq war represents 1% of GDP today.

These estimates include various caveats and limitations spelled out by
CRS.

"All estimates are of the costs of military operations only and do not
include costs of veterans benefits, interest paid for borrowing money
to finance wars, or assistance to allies," the CRS report indicated.

"Comparisons of costs of wars over a 230 year period... are inherently
problematic," the new report cautioned.
See"Costs of Major U.S. Wars," Congressional Research Service, July
24, 2008: